Torpedo



April 22, 19240 J. H. PEcrgI-IAM TORPEDO Filed June 27.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22, 1924.

v l 1,490,981 J. H. PEcKi-AM TORPEDO Filed June 2 7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y JIJ. @www @51j Y l.

@Hoang AApril 22.', 1924. 1,490,981

, :1. H. PECKHAM TORPEDO Fil'ed June 27 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gnou/1f off,

Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

JETHRO E. PECKHAM, F PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.

TORPEDO.

Application Ied June 27, 1921.

To all w/zom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JETHRO H. PEGKHAM, a citizen oit the United States7 residing at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torp-edoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes and more particularly to the improvements in the steering mechanism whereby the horizontal rudders are mechanically actuated to maintain the torpedo at the proper depth.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical mechanical means for controlling the horizontal steering means oit a torpedo to the elimination of the air steering engine heretotore generally used.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character of compact construction which may be easily installed in torpedoes now in use Without material alteration or displacement of associated mechanisms.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which Will be largely automatic in its operation and so designed as to operate smoothly and eiliciently under all conditions.

Other objects will be in part ovious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection With the accon'ipanying sheet of drawing forming part of this disclosure wherein Figures 1 and 2 are elevation views of such parts of the mechanism as are necessary to understand the invention, taken at right angles to each other.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3/3, Figure l.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4/4, Figure 1. y

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5/57 Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a main base or trame 5 which is interchange able With a standard steering engine bracket now in use .in torpedoes, supports a shaft 6 shown in Figure 5 provided with a gear 7 meshing with the usual distance gear 8 as shown in Figure 3. vThe distance gear is mounted on the outer propeller shaft and is adapted to drive the pallet as hereinafter more fully explained. The other end of the shaft 6 is provided with an eccentric 10 as shown in Figure 4 for causing a pallet 11 associated therewith to oscillate in a vertical serial No. 480,919.

plane. This pallet carries a paWl 12 pivotally mounted thereon by means of stud 13 and is connected by means ot a second stud 14 with a pilot rod 15 connected to the standard linkage Well known to those skilled in the art and motion is transmitted from the pendulum and hydrostatic mechanism, not shovvn7 to this steering device. A spring take-up 1G is provided in the rod 15 to absorb excess motion of the connecting linkage over that required to properly engage the pawl- 12 with leither of two eccentric circular cams 17 and 18 provided With ratchet teeth as shown extending along the major part ot' their surface said ratchet teeth being cut on a circular face eccentric with the center o1 revolution. These cams 17 and 18 convert the oscillatory movement of the pallet 12 into circular motion inv either direction. For this purpose they are geared together by bevell gears 20 mounted upon shaft 21. Motion is transmitted to the rudder rod by means ot link 22 carrying a block 23 meshing with Worm 24, this worm being pinned to the shait 21 and is revolved in either direction by the circular cams 17 and 1S` and the bevel gears 20. The link 22 and shaft 21 are provided With suitable bearings in a frame 25 secured to the main frame 5.

The operation of the present device is briefly stated as followsz-Assuming that the torpedo has taken a dive, the pendulum will swing forward carrying the pilot rod 15 aft a certain amount, proportionate to the angle of dive thus causing the pawl 12 to engage in the steps or ratchet surface of the circular cam 17 and as it reciprocates cause this cam 17 to revolve in the direction of the arrow as shown. This movement revolves the shaft 21 and causes the worm 24 and rack or block 23 to move the link 22 aft and thus give the horizontal rudders an up position. As the 'face of the cam 17 is eccentric'vvith its center of rotation, as it is rotated, the face retreats until it has moved longitudinally an equal amount With the throw of the pallet, at which position the pavvl 12 will free itself of the cam and idle between the tivo cams until an additional or counter impulse is received at which time the motion is continued or reversed. The worm and rack drive serve as a lock to hold the link 22 in any position against outside pressure.

It Will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical and reliable mechanism adapted to control the position ot the horizontal steering rudder under all conditions.

lVithout further ana-lysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications Without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects oi' this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning` and range ot equivalency ot the following claims. Y

What l claim is 1. In a. mechanism of the character described, in combination, a main shaft, a pallet actuated thereby, cams associated With said pallet and adapted to be connected with the horizontal rudder, and means for bringing said pallet into engagement with one or the other of said cams to operate said rudder.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination. a main shaft, a pallet actuated thereby, cams associated With said pallet adapted to be connectedwith the horizontal rudder, means for bringing said pallet into engagement with one or the other ot said cams to operate said rudder, said means comprisingr a link adapted to be connected with the depth control mechanism, a. rack and Worin, and gearing for actuating said rack and Worm.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the distance gear, a pallet ec centricall37 connected with said shaft, cams adapted to be engaged by said pallet, said cams adapted to be rotated a Variable amount, a link adapted to be connected with the horizontal steering rudder, and means for causing said link to be moved in one direction or the other a Variable amount uccording to Which cam is engaged with said pallet.

et. In a niechansm oit the character described, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the distance gear, a pallet eccentrically connected with said shaft, cams adapted to be engaged by said pallet, a link adapted to be connected with the horizontal steeringl rudder, anc, means for causing said linl; to be moved in one direction or the other according to which of said cams is engaged with said pallet.

5. In a mechanism ofthe character described, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the distance gear, a link adapted to be connected With the horizontal rudder and mechanical means interposed between said shaft and linlr for causing the link to be moved in one direction or the other, said means comprising a reciprocat ing pallet, cams adapted to be engaged by said pallet and gearing interposed between the cams and the link for transn'iittingr motion to the link as the cams are engaged.

Signed at Newport, R. I. this 31 day ol' March, 1921.

JETHRO H. PECKHAM. 

